Page 97 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

cross someone up

silver.ŁUsedŁinŁthat sense orŁjocularlyŁfor cry one’ eyes out to cryŁveryŁhard.Ł When
sàmethingŁ like tippingŁ aŁ porter.) I we heard the news, we cried our eyes out
crossed his palm with silver, but he still with joy. She cried her eyes out after his
stood there. You will find that things death.
happłn much faster in hotels if you cross cryŁoverŁspilledŁmilk to be unhappyŁabout
the staff’s palms with silver fairly often.
somethingŁthat cannot be undàne.Ł(Alsà
cross someone up to give someone troubl; literal.) I’m sorry that you broke your
to defyŁor betrayŁsàmeone.Ł(Also without bicycle, Tom. But there is nothing that can
up.) You really crossed me up when you be done now. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
told Tom what I said. Please don’t cross Ann is alwØys crying over spilled milk.
me up again. cryŁwłlf to cryŁorŁcomplainŁabout sàme-
thingŁwhenŁnothingŁisŁreallyŁwrong.Ł
cross swłrds (withŁ someone)Ł(on something) Pay no attention. She’s just crying wolf
to enterŁinto anŁargument with sàmeone. again. Don’t cry wolf too often. No one
I doà’t want to cross swords with Tom will come.
on this mØtter. The last time we crossed
swords, we had a terrible time. cryingŁneedŁforŁ someone ortsomething aŁdef-
inite orŁdesperate needŁforŁsomeone or
cross theŁRubicon to do somethingŁthat sàmething. There is a crying need for
inevitablyŁ commitsŁ one to followingŁ a someone to come in and straighten things
certainŁcourse of action.Ł(The crossingŁof out. All the people in that area have a
the RiverŁRubiconŁbyŁJuliusŁCaesarŁin- crying need for błtter housing.
evitablyŁinvolvedŁhimŁinŁaŁwarŁwith the
senate inŁ 49 b.c.) Jane crossed the a cryingŁshame aŁveryŁunfàrtunate situa-
Rubicon by signing the contract. Find tion;ŁaŁrealŁshame.Ł It’s a crying shamł
another job before you cross the Rubicoà that people cannot afford adequØte hous-
and resign from this one. ing. That everyone could not attend the
concert was a crying shame.
crushedŁ byŁ something demoralized;Ł with cueŁ someone in 1. to give sàmeone aŁcue; to
hurt feelings.Ł(Also literal.) The wholł indicate to someone that the time has
family was complłtely cruohed by the news. come.Ł Now, cue the orchestra drector
I was just cruohed by your attitude. I in. T All right, cue in the announcer. 2.
thought we were friends.
to tellŁsàmeone what isŁgàingŁon.Ł(Infàr-
the cruxcofŁtheŁmatter the cntral issue mal.ŁAlmost the same asŁ clue someone in
of the matter.Ł( Crux isŁanŁoldŁwordŁmean- (on something).) I want to know what’s
ingŁ“cross.”) All right, this is the crux of going on. Cue me in. T Cue in the general
the mØtter. It’s about time that wł about the troop movłmłnt.
looked at the crux of the mØtter. curdle someone’ blłod to frighten or dis-
gust sàmeone severely.Ł The story was
cryŁbeforeŁ one is hurt to cryŁorŁcomplain scary enough to curdle your blood. The
before one isŁinjured.Ł Bill always cries terrible scream was enough to curdle my
błfore he’s hurt. There is no point in cry- blood.
ing błfore one is hurt.
CuriosityŁkilled theŁcat. It isŁdangerous
cryŁbloodyŁmurder to screamŁasŁif sàme- to be curious.Ł(Pràverb.) Doà’t ask so
thingŁ veryŁ seriousŁ hasŁ happened.Ł (Se many questions, Billy. Curiosity killed the
alsà scream bloody murder.) Now that cØt. Curiosity killed the cØt. Mind your
Bill is really hurt, he’s crying bloody mur- own business.
der. There is no point in crying bloody
murder about the bill if you aren’t going to curl someone’ hair and make someone’ hair
pØy it. curl to frightenŁ orŁ alarmŁ someone; to
słockŁ someone with sight, sound,Ł or
cryŁcrocodileŁteyrs Go to shed crocodile taste.Ł(Also literal.) Doà’t ever sneak up
tears. on me like that again. You really curled my

82